Career and Education Opportunities for Building Inspectors in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Building inspector career and educational opportunities abound in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There are currently 3,580 jobs for building inspectors in Michigan and this is projected to grow 11% to about 3,980 jobs by 2016. This is not quite as good as the national trend for building inspectors, which sees this job pool growing by about 16.8% over the next eight years. In general, building inspectors inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations.

The income of a building inspector is about $25 hourly or $52,760 annually on average in Michigan. In the U.S. as a whole, their income is about $24 hourly or $50,180 yearly on average. Incomes for building inspectors are better than in the overall category of General Construction in Michigan, and better than the overall General Construction category nationally.

There is one school within twenty-five miles of Grand Rapids where you can study to be a building inspector, among nineteen schools of higher education total in the Grand Rapids area. The most common level of education for building inspectors is a Bachelor's degree. It will take about four years to learn to be a building inspector if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Building Inspector

Building Inspector video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, building inspectors inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. They also inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.

Building inspectors inspect and interpret plans, blueprints and construction methods to insure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations. They also inspect bridges and foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety and conformance to given requirements and codes. Equally important, building inspectors have to measure dimensions and verify level, alignment, and elevation of structures and fixtures to insure compliance to building plans and codes. They are often called upon to inspect and monitor construction sites to insure adherence to safety standards and specifications. They are expected to use survey instruments and test equipment, such as concrete strength measurers, to perform inspections. Finally, building inspectors train, direct and supervise other construction inspectors.

Every day, building inspectors are expected to be able to listen to and understand others in meetings. They need to articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for building inspectors to monitor placement of plumbing and appliances to insure that installation is performed properly and is in adherence to applicable regulations. They are often called upon to maintain daily logs and supplement inspection records with photographs. They also issue violation notices and stop-work orders, conferring with owners and authorities to explain regulations and recommend rectifications. They are sometimes expected to approve and sign plans that meet required specifications. Somewhat less frequently, building inspectors are also expected to monitor placement of plumbing and appliances to insure that installation is performed properly and is in adherence to applicable regulations.

Building inspectors sometimes are asked to evaluate premises for cleanliness, including proper garbage disposal and lack of vermin infestation. They also have to be able to compute estimates of work completed or of needed renovations or upgrades, and approve payment for contractors And finally, they sometimes have to inspect and monitor construction sites to insure adherence to safety standards and specifications.

Like many other jobs, building inspectors must have exceptional integrity and be thorough and dependable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Grand Rapids include:

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Building Inspector Training

Grand Rapids Community College - Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Community College, 143 Bostwick Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3295. Grand Rapids Community College is a large college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 15,403 students. Grand Rapids Community College has an associate's degree program in Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other Specialties which graduated thirteen students in 2008.

Building Plans Inspector:
Becoming ICC certified in one or more professional categories represents a significant accomplishment that offers national recognition of your achievement; increased earning and career advancement potential; and proof of your knowledge, technical expertise and commitment to protect public health safety and welfare.

Standard Journeyman Mechanical:
The International Code Council's National Contractor Trades Examination Program is an independent testing program designed to provide licensing agencies with information regarding.

Standard Master Electrician:
The International Code Council's National Contractor Trades Examination Program is an independent testing program designed to provide licensing agencies with information regarding.

Standard Maintenance Electrician:
The International Code Council's National Contractor Trades Examination Program is an independent testing program designed to provide licensing agencies with information regarding.

Standard Residential Electrician:
The International Code Council's National Contractor Trades Examination Program is an independent testing program designed to provide licensing agencies with information regarding.

Bridge Safety Inspection:
This certification program was designed for engineering technicians engaged in the inspection of existing bridges in order to determine their physical condition, maintenance needs, and potential hazards.

Accredited Marine Surveyor :
Our Accredited Marine Surveyor® (AMS®) members must have a minimum of 5 years experience and must pass a written examination by our testing committee in order to earn his or her AMS® credential.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan photo by Grguy2011

Grand Rapids is located in Kent County, Michigan. It has a population of over 193,396, which has shrunk by 2.2% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Grand Rapids, 81, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Grand Rapids cost $98,700 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, forty-three new homes were built in Grand Rapids, down from ninety-two the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Grand Rapids are health care, educational services, and accommodation and food services. For men, it is construction, transportation equipment, and educational services. The average travel time to work is about 19 minutes. More than 23.8% of Grand Rapids residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 8.0%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Grand Rapids is 15.4%, which is greater than Michigan's average of 14.3%.

The percentage of Grand Rapids residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 52.9%, is more than both the national and state average. Church of Jesus Christ, Immanuel Church and Trinity Church are among the churches located in Grand Rapids. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Christian Reformed Church in North America and the Reformed Church in America.

Grand Rapids is home to the Kent Country Club and the Walker Juvenile Court as well as Comstock Riverside Park and Richmond Park. Visitors to Grand Rapids can choose from Hampton Inn Grand Rapids, Hampton Inn Grand Rapids/North- Mi and Hampton Inn Fax for temporary stays in the area.